Game Combining Aspects of Keno and Poker

ABSTRACT

An additional to games of chance such as keno wherein card values can also be generated. A player can mark numbers he predicts will be picked by the house, and after the house picks their numbers, card values can also be generated. A poker hand can be formed from the card values and an award can be awarded based on a value of the poker hand.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of provisional application No. 60/746,857, entitled, “Game Combining Aspects of Keno & Poker,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/218,751, filed on Sep. 2, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is also a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/224,674, filed on Sep. 12, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is also a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/224,686, filed on Sep. 12, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is also a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11/224,687, filed on Sep. 12, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present inventive concept relates to a wagering game, and more particularly to a game which combines aspects of keno and poker into a single game.

2. Description of the Related Art

The current game of keno is a less popular wagering game in the casino. Part of the reason for the lack of popularity of this game might be attributed to its slow nature and infrequency of large payouts.

What is needed is a variation of keno which will provide more excitement to players and increase the popularity of the variation of keno.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an exciting wagering game with aspects of keno and/or poker.

The above aspects can be obtained by a method that includes (a) marking, by a player, marked numbers on a grid; (b) picking, by a house, random numbers on the grid; (c) determining matching numbers between the marked numbers and the random numbers; (d) generating a random card value for each of the matching numbers; (e) forming a poker hand using the random card value(s); and (f) paying the player an amount based on a rank of the poker hand.

The above aspects can also be obtained by a method that includes (a) marking, by a player, marked numbers on a grid; (b) picking, by a house, random numbers on the grid; (c) generating and outputting a random card value for each random number picked during the picking; (d) determining matching numbers between the marked numbers and the random numbers; (e) paying the player based on a number of the matching numbers; (f) forming a poker hand using the random card value(s); and (g) paying the player an amount based on a rank of the poker hand.

The above aspects can also be obtained by method that includes (a) associating grid numbers on a grid with card values; (b) marking, by a player, marked numbers selected from the grid numbers; (c) picking, by a house, random numbers from the grid numbers; (d) determining matching numbers between the marked numbers and the random numbers; and (e) paying the player based on a number of the matching numbers.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a sample keno board, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a keno board with card values assigned to selected numbers, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing a combined keno and poker game, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing a combined keno and poker game which generates card values upon a hit, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a drawing of a sample keno board with spots marked by a player, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a drawing of a sample keno board with spots marked by a player and balls drawn, with card values generated for hits, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a drawing of a sample keno board with spots marked by a player and balls drawn with hits indicated by card values, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating hardware used to implement an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of ensuring enough cards are drawn to form a poker hand, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating numerous types of number picking games which can be applied to the present inventive concepts, according to embodiments;

FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a sample keno board with card values associated with each number, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing a combined keno and poker game with pre-mapped card values, according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

The present general inventive concept relates to a method, system, and computer readable storage which allows a casino to offer to player(s) a

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a sample keno board, according to an embodiment.

A keno board typically displays 80 numbers. A player can select any number (or a range, such as 1-20 or more) of numbers to mark. The player's goal is to try to guess which numbers will be randomly picked by the casino. Typically, the more matches a players guessed numbers match the casino's picks, the more a player wins (although players can also win a prize for getting zero or a small number of matches).

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a keno board with card values assigned to selected numbers, according to an embodiment.

A keno board is displayed 202 with a best five card poker hand output 204. For each new game, the casino (or machine etc.) will randomly generate 20 (or another number) of generated numbers. The keno game can generate a random card for each number generated. These cards can be displayed alongside the numbers generated as in FIG. 2. Thus for example, the number 12 was randomly generated by the casino, and the card value five of diamonds was randomly generated for the number 12. The random generation can be performed by randomly picking a card from a standard (or non-standard) deck of cards (duplicate cards for different numbers are typically not allowed). Alternatively to displaying the card values alongside the generated numbers as in FIG. 2, a standard keno output can be used (where generated numbers are outputted with a light or icon) and a separate output device can display the generated cards.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing a combined keno and poker game, according to an embodiment.

The method can start with operation 300, which draws a keno number randomly. This can be done using an electronic random number generator, a mechanical generation device (e.g., numbered balls picked at random), a wheel, etc.

From operation 300, the method can proceed to operation 302, which uses a random number generator to assign a card value to the keno number generated in operation 300. For example, the number 79 can be picked at random in operation 300. A random card value 9 (e.g., 9 spades, see FIG. 2) can be assigned to this number (79).

From operation 302, the method can proceed to operation 304, wherein the card value generated form operation 302 can be displayed alongside the number generated form operation 300. For example, in FIG. 2, the card value (9 spades) can then be displayed alongside the number (79).

From operation 304, the method can proceed to operation 306, which determines whether 20 balls have been drawn yet (of course other numbers of balls can be used as well). If 20 balls (or another number) have not been drawn yet by the house (casino), then the method can return to operation 300, which draws another random keno number.

If the determination in operation 306 determines that enough balls have been drawn, then the method can proceed to operation 308, which resolves keno winnings for a particular player. This can be done by determining how many matches there are between the player's selected numbers and the actual numbers drawn by the casino. A paytable can then be used to pay out an award (if any), if the player has a certain number of matches. Paytables may be different depending on how many numbers the player chooses to mark.

From operation 308, the method can proceed to operation 310, which determines the highest poker hand from the cards generated (in operation 302) which match the player's selections with the numbers drawn. For each match, a card is used. Once all the card(s) are determined, a best poker hand is formed from these card(s). For example, in FIG. 2, consider a player has marked the numbers from 11-30 (20 numbers). The numbers generated by the casino that match the players' marked numbers are: five diamonds, eight clubs, two diamonds, two spades, three hearts, and five of hearts. Of these six cards, the best five card (or other number of cards) poker hand can be generated. The best five card poker hand in this case would be two pair (two diamonds, two spades, five diamonds, five hearts), and either of the remaining cards (e.g., it doesn't matter if the eight clubs or the three hearts is used, this is irrelevant to making the best poker hand). For one method to determine a best poker hand from a number of cards, see patent publication number 20050085286, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The method illustrated in FIG. 3 generates a new card value for each keno number picked at random. In a further embodiment (illustrated in FIG. 4), a card value can be generated only upon a match with a player's marked numbers. This embodiment would typically be implemented when each player was using his or her own Electronic Gaming Device EGD).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing a combined keno and poker game which generates card values upon a hit, according to an embodiment.

The method can start with operation 400, wherein the player selects (marks) his or her keno spots.

From operation 400, the method can proceed to operation 402, wherein a random keno number is drawn by the house (e.g. casino, EGD, etc.)

From operation 402, the method can proceed to operation 404, which determines whether the drawn number (from operation 402) matches any of the selected numbers marked by the player (in operation 400).

If operation 402 determines that there is a match, then the method can proceed to operation 406, which generates and displays a random card value for the matched number.

From operations 404 and 406, the method can then proceed to operation 408 which determines whether 20 (or any number chosen by the house) random keno numbers have been selected. If 20 numbers have not yet been selected, then the method can return to operation 402 which draws another keno number.

If the determination in operation 408 determines that enough keno numbers have been drawn, then the method can proceed to operation 412, which pays the player if he/she has achieved a winning number of matches. This is similar to operation 308 from FIG. 3.

From operation 412, the method can proceed to operation 414, which determines the highest poker hand from the cards generated and pays if this is a winning hand. This is similar to operation 310 from FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of a sample keno board with spots marked by a player, according to an embodiment.

The player can mark any number of spots (or a range such as 1-20) on the grid of numbers. The spots the player has marked are designated by an “X.”

FIG. 6 is a drawing of a sample keno board with spots marked by a player and balls drawn, with card values generated for hits, according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 can be implemented by a method such as illustrated in FIG. 4.

A grid 600 displays the numbers from 1 through 80. The spots marked (selected) by a player are designated with an “X.” The spots randomly picked by the house are designated with a solid black circle.

A card display 602 displays all of the cards generated when there is a match (e.g. a player marks a spot which is also randomly picked by the house). These cards can be generated, for example, in operation 406.

In an embodiment, a best five card poker hand (or any number of cards) can be made from all of the generated cards. Thus, out of the six cards generated (since there are six matches), the best poker hand is a flush (of diamonds).

FIG. 7 is a drawing of a sample keno board with spots marked by a player and balls drawn with hits indicated by card values, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 but the generated cards are displayed on (or associated with) the number which matched.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating hardware used to implement an embodiment.

A keno random number generator 800 can display the numbers generated on a keno number board 808. The keno random number generator 800 can output random numbers that it displayed to a first keno/poker electronic gaming device (EGD) 802, a second keno/poker EGD 804 and a third keno/poker EGD 806.

Typically, a player can play keno and pick as many numbers as he or she wants to. For example, some keno games may let a player pick only one number. This would be too small of a number to allow for a poker hand, so if the player picks/marks less than a predetermined number of numbers (e.g. five), the game can automatically generate additional picks for the purpose of forming a poker hand. Thus, if the player picks one number, the game can automatically pick four more numbers for the purposes of possibly making a poker hand, but the player's payouts on the keno bet will still typically be based just on the number that he picked for keno. Thus, for example, if the player picks just one number, four additional numbers can be picked randomly by the house. If the number the player picked matches a keno number picked by the house then a card value will be generated. If any of the additional numbers match a keno number picked by the house then a card value will be generated. But the keno award (not involving the poker hand) will typically just be based on the single number that the player had picked (thus the player wins the award for getting 1/1 number right, even though the additional numbers may match as well.) The additional numbers are just for the purpose of allowing the player to make a five card (or any number of cards) poker hand.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of ensuring enough cards are drawn to form a poker hand, according to an embodiment.

The method can start with operation 900, which receives keno spots marked by a player.

From operation 900, the method can proceed to operation 902, which determines if the number of keno spots marked by the player is less than a predetermined amount. If the number of keno spots is less than a predetermined amount (e.g. five), then the method can proceed to operation 904, which generates additional spots randomly (or non-randomly, e.g. sequentially) for the player. Alternatively, additional card values can also be generated (now or at a later time).

Form operations 902 or 904, the method can proceed to operation 906, wherein the house picks random keno numbers and card values are generated. Card values can be generated using any of the embodiments described herein.

From operation 906, the method can proceed to operation 908, which determines a highest poker hand from the generated card values. This can be done by electronically (or manually by a human) checking all combinations of five (or any other number) of cards for winning ranks, and taking the highest winning rank out of all the combinations.

From operation 908, the method can proceed to operation 910, which makes an award to the player based on the poker hand, if there is a winning hand.

From operation 910, the method can proceed to operation 912, which determines and makes a keno award based on the number of matches between the numbers the player has marked (in operation 900) and the numbers the casino has picked (in operation 906). Additional numbers, if any, picked by the house in operation 904, are not used in determining the keno award. In an alternative embodiment, the additional numbers picked in operation 904 can be used in determining the keno award.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating numerous types of number picking games which can be applied to the present inventive concepts, according to embodiments.

For example, any embodiments described herein can be applied to a lottery game 1000, or a bingo game 1002.

Table I below is a sample keno paytable. Of course other structures/payouts can be used as well. In the game illustrated in Table I, the house picks 20 numbers (although of course other values besides 20 can be used). The left column is the number of matches between the spots (numbers) the player has marked and the numbers the house (computer) has randomly generated. The top row is the number of numbers the player has chosen to mark (from 2-10, although other ranges can be used as well, e.g. 1-20, etc.) The value which intersects with the proper row/column is the amount the player has won. TABLE I pick Matches 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 20 5 2 2 1 1 0 0 4 0 0 65 5 5 3 2 1 1 5 0 0 0 215 49 12 4 5 4 6 0 0 0 0 800 245 48 35 9 7 0 0 0 0 0 2000 500 255 100 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000 2500 300 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000 1500 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2000

Table II below illustrates one sample paytable for poker hands formed from generated card and a sample payout. Of course other hands/payouts can be used as well. TABLE II Hand payout Royal flush 5000 Straight flush 3000 Four of a kind 500 Full house 400 Flush 300 Three of a kind 250 Straight 100 Two pair 50 Jacks or better 25

FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a sample keno board with card values associated with each number, according to an embodiment.

In this embodiment, each number on the keno board already has a card value associated with it. The card values can be placed on the board sequentially (as illustrated), or can be placed on the board in a random order (e.g. number 1=Ace spades, 2=blank, 3=four of hearts, 4=joker, 5=blank, 6=blank, 7=five spades, etc.)

Thus, in this embodiment, card values are already pre-mapped to the numbers. This means that unlike in embodiments described above, card values are already assigned to numbers and displayed before numbers are drawn by the house instead of generating them upon a match.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of implementing a combined keno and poker game with pre-mapped card values, according to an embodiment. This method is applicable to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11.

The method can start with operation 1200, where the player selects (marks) his or her keno numbers.

From operation 1200, the method can proceed to operation 1202, wherein the house draws a random keno number. This operation also receives the appropriate wagers from the player which includes paying for potential payouts in operation(s) 1208 and/or 1210.

Form operation 1202, the method proceeds to operation 1204, which determines whether 20 balls (or any number) have been drawn yet. If the 20 balls have not been drawn yet, then the method can return to operation 1202, which draws another random keno number.

From operation 1204, the method can proceed to operation 1206, which determines the matches between the numbers the player selected (in operation 1200) and the numbers the house has drawn (in operation 1202). The player can then get paid according to a number of matches.

From operation 1206, depending upon the embodiment being implemented, the method can proceed to either operation 1208 or operation 1210.

In operation 1208, the highest poker hand from only matches between player picks (operation 1200) and house draws (operation 1202) is determined and paid according to a paytable. Thus, if the keno player picked numbers 8, 14, 41, 42, and 55, then the matches with the numbers the house draws (in operation 1202) would be 8, 14, 41 and 55, wherein the best poker three card poker hand would be three of a kind (aces). Of course, poker hands using other numbers of cards can be used, such as five (which is typically the standard number of cards for forming a poker hand).

In operation 1210, the highest poker hand from all of the numbers draw by the house in operation 1202 is determined. In the example in FIG. 11, the highest poker hand would be a royal flush (10 spades, J spades, joker, K spades, Ace spades). The player can then be paid according to a paytable, for example as illustrated in Table II. The hand is formed regardless of the numbers picked by the player in operation 1200.

Depending upon the embodiment being implemented by the house, either operation 1208 or 1210 can be chosen, or in an embodiment, both of these can be implemented (e.g. the player can be paid both times).

In addition to picking numbers on the keno grid, a player can also pick poker hands that can be formed. For example, the player can wager that a poker hand, such as a three of a kind, can be formed using any of the methods described herein to form a poker hand. The paper in which the player marks off his or her numbers can also have a table wherein the player selects a particular poker hand, such as illustrated in Table III. The player may have to wager extra to bet on these poker hands or alternatively betting on a poker hand(s) can be included in the price of the keno wager.

Table III

Royal flush

Straight flush

Four of a kind

Full house

Flush

Straight

Three of a kind

Two of a king

High pair

Thus, the player can bet that particular poker hand(s) (generated by any of the methods described herein) will be formed. This can be in addition to any keno wagers placed. The player can bet on one or more selected poker hand the player hopes will be formed, and thus the player can place a separate wager on each selected poker hand (e.g. a $1 wager on three of a kind, a $2 wager on high pair, etc.)

In a further embodiment, card values can be mapped to letters of the alphabet. For example, since there are 26 letters in the alphabet and 13 cards in each suit, each letter of the entire alphabet can be associated with half of the deck (two suits). The remaining two suits can also be associated with the alphabet. This in this method, letter values are “pre-mapped,” to each card, that is the letter value is already known for each card value. Letter values do not have to be pre-mapped and can also be generated as needed. Other mapping methods can be used as well, e.g., just associated a random letter of the alphabet with a card value. This can be used in various ways. For example, when a poker hand is generated, if the poker hand spells a word, money can be awarded to the player. The longer the word spelled, the more money can be awarded to the player.

Thus, any embodiment described herein which maps or associates a keno number (or number for other game such as bingo, etc.) to a card value can instead map the number to a letter. Thus, for instance, in any of the figures herein, any card value can be replaced with a letter of the alphabet, and the concept of the best poker hand can be replaced with the longest word. For example, consider a game wherein the player picks his or her numbers and for any matches with the numbers that the house generates, a random letter is generated. Thus, if the player picks 10 numbers, and the house picks 20, and the matches are: 10, 15, 16, 29, 30, 35. The house (computer) automatically assigned a random letter to each match, e.g. a, b, d, i, r, z. The longest word that can be created is a five letter word: braid. A paytable can be offered with payouts for each word length, such as that illustrated in Table IV. Of course, this is merely an example for illustrative purposes. Typically, letters picked can only be used once, that is if a single ‘A’ is picked, the generated word can only have one ‘A,’ whereas is two ‘A’s are picked, then the word can have two A's, etc. TABLE IV Word length payout 2 1 3 2 4 5 5 20 6 100

Cards generated in any embodiment described herein can be drawn using a standard deck of cards or any type of special deck (e.g. a Spanish deck, etc.), drawn using a single deck, multiple decks, or infinite deck (replacement cards allowed with equal probability as prior drawn cards). Further, the order of any of the operations described herein can be performed in any order and wagers can be placed/resolved in any order. Any operations described herein may also be optional. Any embodiments herein can also be played in electronic form and programs and/or data for such can be stored on any type of computer readable storage medium (e.g. CD-ROM, DVD, disk, etc.)

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A method to resolve wagers placed by a player, the method comprising: marking, by a player, marked numbers on a grid; picking, by a house, random numbers on the grid; determining matching numbers between the marked numbers and the random numbers; generating a random card value for each of the matching numbers; forming a poker hand using the random card value(s); and paying the player an amount based on a rank of the poker hand.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the poker hand is formed by using a best five card hand out of the random card values.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the grid is a keno grid.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the grid is a lottery grid.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the grid is a bingo grid.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein if an amount of marked numbers by the player is less than a predetermined number, then additional numbers will be marked to reach the predetermined number of numbers marked.
 10. A method to resolve wagers placed by a player, the method comprising: marking, by a player, marked numbers on a grid; picking, by a house, random numbers on the grid; generating and outputting a random card value for each random number picked during the picking; determining matching numbers between the marked numbers and the random numbers; paying the player based on a number of the matching numbers; forming a poker hand using the random card value(s); and paying the player an amount based on a rank of the poker hand.
 11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the poker hand is formed by using a best five card hand out of the random card values.
 12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the grid is a keno grid.
 13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the grid is a lottery grid.
 14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the grid is a bingo grid.
 15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein if an amount of marked numbers by the player is less than a predetermined number, then additional numbers will be marked to reach the predetermined number of numbers marked.
 16. A method to resolve wagers placed by a player, the method comprising: associating grid numbers on a grid with card values; marking, by a player, marked numbers selected from the grid numbers; picking, by a house, random numbers from the grid numbers; determining matching numbers between the marked numbers and the random numbers; and paying the player based on a number of the matching numbers.
 17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising: forming a best poker hand using the card values associated with the picked numbers by the house; and paying the player an amount based on a rank of the best poker hand.
 18. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising: forming a best poker hand using the card values associated with the matching numbers; and paying the player an amount based on a rank of the best poker hand.
 19. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising: before the picking, allowing the player to select a predicted poker hand and receiving a wager(s) from the player; and paying the player's wager if the best poker hand forms the predicted poker hand.
 20. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising: before the picking, allowing the player to select a predicted poker hand and receiving a wager(s) from the player; and paying the player's wager if the best poker hand forms the predicted poker hand.
 21. A method to resolve a wager placed by a player, the method comprising: generating a plurality of random letters; determining a largest English word using the random letters; and paying a player based on a length of the word.
 22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the generating generates letters by generating card values which have a respective letter associated with each card value.
 23. A method as recited in claim 21, further comprising: before the generating: marking, by a player, marked numbers selected from grid numbers; picking, by a house, random numbers from grid numbers, wherein the generating randomly generates an English letter for every match between the marked numbers and the random numbers. 